Analysis of An Argument Topics

This list consists of 140 arguments from which one will be chosen for you by the computer when you take your GMAT.

126. The following appeared in a memorandum written by the managing director of the Exeunt Theatre Company.

Now that we have moved to a larger theatre, we can expect to increase our revenues from ticket sales. To further increase profits, we should start producing the plays that have been most successful when they were performed in our nation's largest cities. In addition, we should hire the Adlib Theatre Company's director of fund-raising, since corporate contributions to Adlib have increased significantly over the three years that she has worked for Adlib.

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underline the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate in conclusion.

127. The following appeared in a memorandum from the human resources department of Home Style, a house remodelling business.

This year, despite Home Style's move to new office space, we have seen a decline in both company morale and productivity and a corresponding increase in administrative costs. To rectify these problems, we should begin using a newly developed software package for performance appraisal and feedback. Managers will save time by simply choosing comments from a pre-existing list. then the software will automatically generate feedback for the employee. The Human Resources department at Counter Balance, the manufacturer of the countertops we install, reports satisfaction with the package.

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underline the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate in conclusion.

128. The following appeared as part of an article in a weekly newsmagazine.

The country of Oleum can best solve the problem of its balance of trade deficit by further increasing the lax on its major import, crude oil. After Oleum increased the tax on imported crude oil four months ago, consumption of gasoline declined by 20 percent. Therefore, by imposing a second and significantly higher tax increase next year, Oleum will dramatically decrease its balance of trade deficit.

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underline the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate in conclusion.

129. The following appeared as part of the business plan of the Capital Idea investment firm.

In recent years, the world wide demand for larger fish has grown and improvement in fishing technology have made larger catches and thus increased supply possible, for example, last year's tuna catch was 9 percent greater than the previous year's. To capitalize on these trends, we should therefore invest in the new tart fish processing plant on Tart fish Island where increasing revenues from tourism indicate a strong local economy.

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underline the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate in conclusion.

130. The following appeared in a speech by a stockholder of Consolidated Industries at the company's annual stockholders' meeting.

In the computer hardware division last year, profits fell significantly below projections, the product line decreased from twenty to only five items and expenditures for employee benefits increased by 15 percent. Nevertheless, Consolidated's board of directors has approved an annual salary of over one million dollars for our company's chief executive officer. The present board members should be replaced because they are unconcerned about the increasing costs of employee benefits and salaries in spite of the company's problems generating income.

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your discussion be sure to analyze the line of reasoning and the use of evidence in the argument. For example, you may need to consider what questionable assumptions underline the thinking and what alternative explanations or counterexamples might weaken the conclusion. You can also discuss what sort of evidence would strengthen or refute the argument, what changes in the argument would make it more logically sound and what, if anything, would help you better evaluate in conclusion.